Corn-planter.



PATENTED APR. 24, 1906.

LN. FRAME.

CORN PLANTBR. APPLICATION FILED r3119. 1906.

A TTORNE Y5 PATENT oFFioE.

JOSEPH-N. FRAME, OF LEVVISTOWN, MISSOURI.

CORN-PLANTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 24, 1906.

Application filed February 19, 1906- Serial No. 301,899.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH N. FRAME, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lewistown, in the county of Lewis and State of Missouri,have invented a new and useful Corn-Planter, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to cornplanters; and it has for its objects tosimplify the construction and operation of this class of machines and toprovide simple and improved means whereby the seed-dropping mechanismmay be operated direct from the axle of the machine through the mediumof a simple connecting-rod and without the intervention of chains orsimilar connecting means, thereby insuring certainty, accuracy, andeffectiveness of operation.

With these and other ends in view, which will readily appear as thenature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in theimproved construction and novel arrangement and combination of partswhich will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed outin the claim.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferredform of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitationis necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited,but that changes, alterations, and modifications within the scope of theinvention may be made when desired.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a corn-planterconstructed in accordance with the principles of the invention. Fig. 2is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the same, and Fig. 3 is asectional detail view taken on theplane indicated by the line 3 3 inFig. 1.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are indicated throughout bysimilar characters of reference.

The improved corn-planter of the present invention includes a main wheelor wheelframe A and a runner-frame B, said frames being hingedlyconnected with each other in the usual well-known manner, as indicatedat 1.

The wheel-frame A is provided with bearings for the rotary axle 2,having the carrying-wheels 3 3, the hubs of the latter being providedwith clutch members 4, adapted for engagement with clutch members 5,which are slidably mounted upon the axle and which are held inengagement with the clutch members 4, as by means of suitablyarrangedsprings 6. By this clutch mechanism when the machine travels in aforward direction and the carrying-Wheels are rotated in a forwarddirection rotary motion will be communicated to the axle, the latterremaining stationary when the machine is being backed.

The runner-frame includes the cross-bars 7, supporting the hoppers orseedboxes 8 8, from which the runners 9 extend forwardly to the frontcross-bar 10. A tongue 11 is suitably connected with the runner-frame.The seed mechanism includes the seed-slides 12, which are supported forreciprocatory movement transversely of the seedboxes. Said seed-slidesare operated by means of a T- lever L, two arms of which, 13, areconnected by means of links 14 with the slides 12. The third arm, 15, ofthe T-lever is connected by a pitman 16 with a crank 17 upon the axle,

from which motion will thus be transmitted to the T-lever and throughthe latter to the seed-slides.

The front cross-bar 18 of the main frame A is provided with an arch 19for the passage of the pitman 16, which latter is provided at its frontend with a hook 20, detachably engaging the arm 15 of the T-lever. Thearch 19 supports a spring-catch 21, which is adapted to support thepitman 16 when the latter is disconnected from the lever L, as will bebest seen by reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings. The operation of theseed-dropping mechanism may be at any time suspended by simplydisconnecting the pitman 16 from the leverarm 15 and placing the pitmanupon the spring-catch or supporting member 21, where it will be free toreciprocate when the axle revolves without in any way effecting the position of the lever L or the seed-dropping mechanism.

The axle 2 of the machine has been shown as provided with a ratchetwheel22, adapted to be engaged by a spring-actuated pawl 23, connected withan operating-lever 24, which latter is confined in a keeper 25,connected with the main frame of the machine. By manipulating this leverthe axle will be partially rotated at the starting of a row for thepurpose of adjusting the seed-dropping mechanism to commence operationsat precisely the desired point. Marking devices of ordinary well-knownconstruction are to be used in connection with this improved planter;but such devices are well known in the art, and inasmuch as they are nopart of the present invention it is not considered necessary to describethe same.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection With the drawingshereto annexed, the operation. and advantages of this invention Will bereadily understood.

The construction of the improved machine is extremely simple, and it istherefore inexpensive and not liable to get out of order. At

the same time the construction is such as to insure absolute accuracyand regularity in the dropping or depositing of the charges of the seed.

When the machine is being moved from one place to another or When forany reason it shall be desired to temporarily suspend the plantingoperation, the pitman 16 is disconnected from the seed-slide-operatinglever L, which latter Will thus remain stationary. WV hen. the pitman isin engagement With the lever at the starting of the roW, the axle may hepartially rotated by means of the lever 24, so as to adjust theseed-dropping mechanism to the required position for starting.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed is In acorn-planter, a main frame, an axle connected therewith for rotation,carrying- Wheels upon the axle, spring-actuated clutch devices forlocking said Wheels upon the axle for rotation in one direction, meansfor rotating the axle independently of the wheels, a crank upon theaxle, a runner-frame hingedly connected With the main frame,reciprocatory seed-slides upon the runner-frame, a T- lever pivoted uponthe latter, links connect ing tWo arms'o'f said lever With theseed-slides, a pitman connecting the crank upon the axle detacliablyWith the third arm of the T-lever, and means for supporting said pitmanin inoperative position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my oWn I have hereto a'llixedmy signature in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

JOSEPH N. FRAME. Witnesses:

J. W. BARNES, J. H. LILLARD.

